Feeding device for carding-machines.



R. 1. HlLL L W. F. BOKUM.

FEEmNe nEvxcE Fon cARmNG MAcmNE-s.

APPLICATION 'FILED AUG-8,1914- 4 LVSS. Patented Feb. 2,2, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO. wASHlNGToN, D. C.

R. I. HILL 6I W. F. BOKUIVI.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CARDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED Amm. 1914.

Ll. Petented Feb. 22,1916. .0 .fz s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. 1. HILL & W. F. BOKUM. FEED|NG DEVICE FOR CARDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8, 1914.

Patented Feb. 2 2, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THB coLUMBxA PMNOGRAPll C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

ITE@ MIXER@ PATENT @FFIQE ROBERT J". I-IILL, OF CAIVIDEN, NEW JERSEY, .AND WILLIAM F. BGKUM, OF PHILADEL- IPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR CARDING1VIACIIINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 19H5.

Application led August 8, 1914. Serial No. 855,806.

To all whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that we, ROBERT J. HILL and VILLIAM F. BOKUM, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, in Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Feeding Devices for Carding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a carding machine feeding device of that type in which successive quantities of fiber are first weighed and then successively fed to the carding machine.

The object of our invention is to so treat the successive masses of fiber in their passage from the feeding device to the carding machine as to correct inequalities in the bulk of different parts of the original mass so that by the time it reaches the carding machine converted into a continuous web or strand it will be of uniform volume throughout. The production of a proper fleece can thus be effected by the use of one carding machine instead of requiring the plurality of machines now considered necessary for the purpose.

In the accompanying drawing-Figure l is a side elevation of the receiving end of a cai-ding machine, the delivery end of a feeder, and fiber conveying mechanism between the two constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the feeder and conveyer mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is aside elevation of certain of the elements of the conveyer mechanism looking in the opposite direction from that inwhich Fig. l is viewed, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section illustratingthe operation of part of the mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents part of the receiving end of a carding machine of any ordinary type and B part of the delivery end of a fiber feeding device of that type in which the fiber is fed to a scale pan b and,

when the proper weight' of fiber has accumu.

lated in the latter, is dumped thereby, through an openbottomed trough Z2', onto an endless apron, such as that shown at 3 in the drawings, which conveys it to the carding machine. In machines of this type, as at present constructed, the masses of fiber vdischarged onto the feed apron 3 by the scale pan are not of uniform volume throughout, the volume being greatest at and near the center of the mass and least at and near the opposite edges of the same. If, therefore, the mass of fiber is conveyed to the carding machine in the same condition in which it has been dumped from the scale pan upon the feed apron, the fleece produced by said carding machine is correspondingly irregular, being thicker in the center than at the edges, and it is therefore customary to use, in connection with the carding machine to which the liberis originally fed, a second carding machine which receives the fleece from the first and subjects the same to a further carding operation, and in order that defects in the uniformity of the fleece delivered by the first carding machine may be corrected it has been customary to interpose between the first and second machines conveylng mechanism which will lay the fleece from the first carding machine transversely across the feed apron of the second carding machine. We have found, however, that by the use of our invention the fieece produced by the first carding machine will be so uniform in character throughout that the use of a second carding machine can be dispensed with. v

The conveying mechanism which we employ is as follows: Extending transversely in front of the fiber feeding machine B are a pair of rails l-l of angular cross section and spaced some distance apart from one another, these rails being mounted by means of brackets 1.a upon arms lb secured to and extending rearwardly from the frame of the feeder at opposite sides of the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These arms also provide bearings for shafts 2 having drums for supporting and driving the endless apron 3 whereby the fiber is carried to the feed rolls of the carding machine A, the shaft 2 adjacent to the carding machine having at one end a spur wheel 2a whereby it is driven from any convenient member of said carding machine. At its opposite end said shaft 2 has a sprocket wheel 2b which, by means of a chain 2c, drives a sprocket wheel 2d on a shaft 4 extending transversely across the feeder B, the sprocket wheels and chain being illustrated by dottedlines in Fig. 1. This shaft 4 by means of suitable bevel wheels` or other available gearing, drives four shafts 5, 5, and 6. 6 (Fig. 2) and the shaft 5a has a sprocket wheel 7 which, by means of a chain 7a, shown by ed at an angle in respect to the horizontal in suitable bearings at the lower` ends of bars 9 and 9 which are mounted, respectively,

upon brackets 10 and 10a, said bracket 10 fbeing mounted upon the rails 1 and the bracket 10a being mounted upon one side of the feeder B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These brackets serve to support the bars 9 and 9a in a position inclined in respect to the vertical and said bars have, at the top, bearings for a shaft 11 inclined in respect to the horizontal at the same angle as the shaft 8 at the lower ends of the bars.

Parallel with the bars 9 and 9a are other bars 12 and 12a which have, at their lower ends, bearings for a shaft 13 and at their upper ends bearings for a shaft 1li. The upper ends of the bars 12 and 12a are connected by means of bars 15 to the upper ends of vertically depending` bars 16, as shown in Fig. 2, and at the junction of these bars 15 and 16 are formed bearings for a shaft 17, while at thc lower` ends of the bars 16 are bearings for a shaft 18. Brackets 19 on the bars 12 and 12n have bearings for a shaft 2O and brackets 21 on the bars 16 provide guidesfor adjustable boxes in which are formed bearings for a shaft 22. Other brackets 23 on said bars 16 provide guides for adjustable carriers of bearings for a shaft 24, while another' shaft 25 vertically below said shaft 24. has bearings in hangers 26 which are mounted upon the shafts 18 and 25 and project below the saine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Also mounted upon the shafts 18 and 25 so as to be free to turn thereon are wheels 27 which run upon the rails l. Power is transmitted from the shaft 8 to the shaft 13 through the medium of interineshing spur wheels 28 and 29, as shown by full lines in Fig.V 3 and by dotted circles in Fig. 2.

An endless belt or apron 30 (Figs. 1 and nieves in the direction of the arrows 0c, Fig. 2, around a drum 32 on the inclined shaft 1 3, thence upwardly at an angle to the vertical around a drum 33 on the shaft let, thence laterally to and around a horizontal drum 341 on the shaft 17, thence downwardly to and around a horizontal drum on the shaft 18, thence upwardly to and around a horizontal drum 35 on the shaft 22, thence laterally to and around an inclined drum 36 on the shaft 20, and thence downwardly at an angle to the vertical to and around the inclined drum 32, consequently the belt 30 in traveling between the drum 33 and the drum 311 is deflected from an inclined to a horizontal position, and in traveling from the drum 35 to the drum 36 is deflected from a horizontal to an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2.

An endless belt or apron 40 travels in the direction of the arrows y (Fig. 2) around a horizontal drum L11 on the shaft 5, thence under the belt 30 where it passes around the under side of the inclined drum`32, thence upwardly in an inclined course parallel with that of the belt 30 to and around a drum 42 on the inclined shaft 11, thence downwardly to and arounda drum 13 on the inclined shaft 8, and thence laterally back to the drum 11, the belt in passing from the drum /11 to the beltBO where it passes under the drum 32 being deliected from a horizontal to an inclined position, and where it passes from the drum 43 back to the drum 41 being deliected from an inclined to a horizontal position, again, as shown in Fig. 2.

The depending hangers 26 which are mounted upon the wheeled shafts 18 and 25 have therein bearings for the journals 50 of a pair of rolls 51 which are free to turn in said bearings, and one of said hanger plates 26 is vertically slotted, as shown at 52 in Fig. 2, for the reception of a lug 53 project-V ing laterally from an endless chain 54 which is mounted upon sprocket wheels carried by the shafts 6 and 6a. rfhe hangers 26 are thus caused to move from end to end of said chain belt 511, the extent of such movement Vbeing practically coincident with the width of the apron 3 which feeds the fibers to the carding machine.

At one end of the shaft 5 is a disk 60 (Fig. 3) having a crank pin 61 which engages the lower end of a link 62 whose up-Y 'per end is connected to an arm 63 on a rock shaft 6&1 mounted in suitable bearings in a standard 65 supported upon the rails 1, as shown in Fig. 3, said rock shaft having another arni 66 which carries a rakeV 6T extending across the endless belt or apron 46 and swinging above the same, as shown by dotted lines in Fig.

The operation of the apparatus'is Vas fol'- lows: A mass of fiber from the scale pan Z) falls upon the upper run ofthe belt or apron L10 and is carried laterally therebyf in the direction of the arrow jz/ shown adjacent to said upper run of said apron in Fig. 2. r1`he surface speed of the apron 4G bears such re lation to the timing of the successive dumpings of the scale pan b that one mass of fiber delivered by said pan will not be moved transversely by said apron 40 .to such an extent that it will clear the next mass of fiber delivered by said pan, consequently the end portions of the successive masses of liber will overlap one another, as shown in Fig. 4f., and thus compensate for the lesser thickness of the ends of said successive masses, as compared with the central portions thereof. As the mass of fiber is carried transversely by the apron L10, thehigher portions of the mass are brought under the action of the rake 67 which serves to level said higher portions of the mass. The mass of fibers then passes between the belts 30 and L10 which flatten it into a web, and said web is carried upwardly in an inclined course by the ascending runs of said belts, delivered thereby onto the laterally extending Lipper run of the transfer belt 30, carried along by the latter in the direction of the arrow m shown upon said run in Fig. 2, then downwardly between the descending runs of the belt 30 and confining belt 37, and delivered finally between the rolls 50 which spread it laterally across the apron or conveyer 3 from edge to edge of the latter.

Any inequality in thickness which may exist between the center and edge portions of a layer of web deposited upon the feed apron 3 will therefore extend transversely of the latter, and will be compensated for by the following layer or layers of web, and in order that this may be more eifectually accomplished the speed of forward movement of the apron 3 may bear such relation to the reciprocating movements of the hangers 26 that the successive webs of fiber will overlap one another but, whether this is so or not, the fact that the masses of ber are first carried transversely away from the feeder B, and are then fed to the carding machine in a direction transverse to that in which they are laid upon the feed apron 40 will prevent any inequalities in the thickness of a mass of fiber as delivered by the scale pan of the feeding machine from being maintained in the web fed to the carding machine, consequently the fleece delivered by the latter will be substantially uniform in bulk from edge to edge, and this will render unnecessary any subsequent carding by a second machine.

The depending belt 37 may be driven by frictional co-ntact with the web or fiber between the descending run of the same and the adjoining run of the belt 30, or, if desired, the shaft 24 may be driven from the shaft 17 by means of spur gears 70 and 71, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or other means of confining the web of fiber to the descending run of the belt 30 may be employed.

We claim:

1. The combination of a carding machine feeder having means for dumping succes` sive masses of fiber, with a receiving apron onto which said successive masses of fiber are directly deposited, said apron traveling transversely across the delivery end of said feeding machine at such rate of speed in respect to the timing of the successive deliveries of fiber by the feeding machine as to cause the forward po-rtion of each mass to lie on top of the rear portion of the mass in advance.

2. The combination of the feed apron of a carding machine, a feedingmachine for delivering successive masses of ber, and conveyer mechanismvfor receiving said successive masses, forming the same into a continuous strand or web, and laying the latter transversely back and forth across the feed apron of the carding machine.

8. The combination of the feed apron of a carding machine, a feeding machine for delivering successive masses of fiber, and means for receiving said successive masses, forming them into a continuous strand or web and spreading the latter transversely across the feed apron of the carding machine, said means comprising a conveyer belt having horizontal and upwardly inclined runs, a transfer belt having upwardly inclined, horizontal and vertical runs, said vertical portion of the belt delivering onto the feed apron of the carding machine, and means for moving the delivery end of said belt laterally back and forth across said feed apron.

4. The combination of the feed apron of a carding machine, a ber feeding machine for delivering successive masses of fiber, and means for receiving the said masses, forming them into a continuous strand or web, and delivering the same to the feed apron of thel carding machine, said means com prising a conveyer belt 'having horizontal and upwardly inclined runs, a transfer belt having upwardly inclined, horizontal and vertical runs and a confining belt having vertical runs, and means for moving the delivery ends of said transfer and confining belts laterally back and forth across the feed apron of the carding machine.

5. The combination of the feed apron of a carding machine, a fiber feeding machine delivering successive masses of fiber, and means for forming said masses into a continuous strand or web and delivering the same to the feed apron of the carding machine, said means comprising belt conveyer mechanism between the feeding machine and the feed apron of the carding' machine, means for moving the delivery end of said conveyer mechanism transversely back and forth across the feed apron and a rake for acting upon the masses of fiber as the same start on their course from the feeding machine to the carding machine.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J. HILL. WILLIAM F. BOKUM.

Witnesses:

KATE A. BEALE, HAMILTON D. TURNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

